Scottish bacteriologist (1881–1955) who shared the 1945 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his role in the discovery and isolation of penicillin. ALS, one page both sides, 5.5 x 8.75, Wright-Fleming Institute of Microbiology letterhead, May 9, 1951. Letter to Mrs. Moore. In part: “I am flattered to appear in a Texas newspaper with Waksman. That was an old photo.…My visit to America is postponed to the Autumn and no dates have been fixed. I hope when things are finally arranged I shall be left sufficient time to be able to see you. Instead of going to New York in April I had a flying visit to Pakistan and there had some very hot weather and saw a very interesting country. One point of interest was that the medical students were on strike. In Karachi they postponed the strike for one hour so that they could come to my lecture but in Lahore they would not go to the medical school so I talked to them in a Y.M.C.A. hall. Fortunately I have no more wanderings till Autumn so perhaps I shall get some work done.” In fine condition.
“Waksman” was Selman Waksman, a microbiologist who, upon hearing a 1939 presentation by Fleming, became one of the scientist’s staunchest devotees and focused his research to the study of soil microbes—something that led to his discovery of Streptomycin and several other antibiotics. Fleming had an influence on countless others—both trained professionals and novices in the medical field—as this correspondence reveals that he was able to get striking Pakistani medical students to gather just to hear his lecture. An insightful letter from a man whose accidental discover of a blue mold growing capable of killing harmful bacteria revolutionized the medical community. RRAuction COA.
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